This study assesses the suitability of aviation accident autopsy samples as RNA sequencing input and for detecting gene expression differences between THC-positive and THC-negative samples. Postmortem brain, lung, muscle, and blood samples were collected from 57 aviation accident fatalities and comparisons were made between each tissue based on the presence or absence of THC or its primary or secondary metabolites (28 positive, 29 negative). RNA was extracted, and global transcriptional analysis was performed using total RNA-Seq. Twenty-two genes in lung (18 of which had Entrez annotation data) and four in muscle showed significant differential gene expression between THC-positive and THC-negative samples. It is possible that the observed expression patterns between the THC-positive and THC-negative groups were induced by smoking and not by THC, as many of the observed genes were also reported in the literature to change in response to smoking. Cannabis use is often accompanied by other substance use, and evidence of co-use was observed among some subjects. Therefore, we cannot state conclusively that the observed differences between the THC-positive and THC-negative groups were due solely to THC consumption, only that significant differences exist when the subject groups are so segregated. Regardless, this study is the first of its kind in reporting RNA-Seq data from postmortem tissues collected from aviation accident victims and that said data are of sufficient quality to derive significant differences between subject groups.

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